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Redmond envisions long-relief role for Below

4/21/12: Duane Below strikes out four in six scoreless innings of relief against the Rangers

By Joe Frisaro and Joe Morgan
/
MLB.com |

MIAMI -- Duane Below is the newest member of an overworked Marlins' bullpen. Nine Miami relievers have combined to throw 16 innings through the first four games of the current homestand.

Manager Mike Redmond aims to insert the left-handed Below into a long-relief role similar to that of fellow lefty Wade LeBlanc. LeBlanc will likely require a day or two of rest after throwing four innings in Miami's 9-2 loss to Arizona on Friday night. Below arrived at Marlins Park shortly before Saturday's game.

"We need, right now, guys that can throw multiple innings," Redmond said. "We were just at a point in time where it was time to move on and get a guy who could throw some more innings. … It's nice to have another lefty in there, a guy that can throw multiple innings."

Below was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans late Friday night after right-hander Jon Rauch was designated for assignment.

Miami claimed Below off waivers from the Tigers on April 25. Below has pitched predominantly as a starter during his Minor League career, making 124 starts since 2006, including four with New Orleans this season. But his time in the Majors has come mostly in the bullpen.

Twenty-six of his 27 appearances for the Tigers last season came in relief. Below finished 2012 with a 2-1 record and a 3.88 ERA in 46 1/3 innings. He struck out 29 batters, walked eight and recorded a 1.23 WHIP.

In addition to eating innings out of the bullpen, Redmond sees Below as a potential situational reliever against left-handed hitters. Lefties hit .304 against Below last season, but he managed to overcome the hits with a 2.21 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.

"Having a guy like [Below] is beneficial to the staff, because now [we] have another guy that you can run out there who's been starting, who's built up, can throw multiple innings," Redmond said. "That just gives us more flexibility."